Forest rangers in Kutch district have begun using this highly handy technology to keep track of the movement and nesting areas of the Great Indian Bustard, found only in Kutch's grassland areas in Gujarat.
"There are just about 200 of these birds left in the world of which around 45 are in Gujarat. We have been keeping track of their movement and also the eggs by using the GPS technology", Kutch District Conservator of Forests R K Meena told PTI.
Naliya, a grassland region in Kutch is the only place in Gujarat where the birds come to lay eggs each year and forest authorities have emerged with several innovative ideas to keep the inflow of the bird each year.
The official said that they had decided to use the advanced technology to ensure that the movement of the endangered birds and their eggs that were recently laid was monitored. The data thus collected would help know their numbers in the near future, they said.
"We have also offered Rs 500 as incentive to any farmer who shows us a new egg of the great Indian Bustard and if he has taken measures to ensure it is safe from natural predators", the official said.
